After almost three years: Huawei's chief financial officer who has been detained is allowed to leave Canada - China reacts

Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer, was held in Canada for almost three years.

That created a serious diplomatic crisis with China.

Now she has been released.

Vancouver - The chief financial officer of the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, was detained in Canada * for almost three years - now she is free.

She reached an agreement with the US judiciary on Friday.

A Canadian court then stopped the extradition proceedings against her, and her bondage obligations were lifted.

Shortly afterwards, Meng boarded a plane to China. * Two Canadians imprisoned in the People's Republic were released there in return.

Huawei CFO released in Canada: Weng travels back to China

Huawei's finance director was arrested in December 2018 at the instigation of the US on a layover in Vancouver.

The 49-year-old daughter of the company's founder, Ren Zhengfei, had to stay in a property in the western Canadian city for almost three years.

Among other things, Weng had to wear an ankle cuff.

The US judiciary accused her of banking fraud in connection with the Iran sanctions and demanded her extradition.

Meng's lawyers, however, spoke of abuse of procedure.

The Chinese government accused the US of targeting Huawei.

Huawei CFO held in Canada for years: extradition proceedings against Meng suspended

A US court then approved Meng's deal with the prosecutor on Friday. A Justice Department representative told a federal court in New York that some sort of probation procedure has been agreed. The allegations against the top manager should therefore be suspended and dropped entirely in December 2022 if Meng adheres to the conditions.

As a result, a court in Vancouver stopped the extradition proceedings against Meng.

"I signed the release order," announced Judge Heather Holmes at the end of the brief hearing.

"In the past three years my life has been turned upside down," Meng told journalists after the hearing.

“It was a tough time for me as a mother, wife and manager.

But I am convinced that rain follows sunshine. ”The time in Canada was also a“ valuable experience ”for her.

Diplomatic crisis between China and Canada: Huawei CFO in focus

Meng's arrest caused a serious diplomatic crisis between China and Canada at the time. A few days after Meng's arrest, Chinese authorities arrested two Canadians. Businessman Michael Spavor and ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig were tried in March on charges of espionage. *

Spavor was sentenced to 11 years in prison in August for "espionage and illegal disclosure of state secrets".

According to the Canadian ambassador, for example, the Chinese authorities accused him of taking banned photos of military aircraft.

The verdict against Kovrig was still pending.

Both were released on Friday shortly after Meng's release.

As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced, the two men were allowed to leave the country immediately after their release.

They have already left Chinese airspace and are "on their way home," said Trudeau.

Huawei CFO arrested in Canada - China responds by arresting Canadian businessmen

The arrest of the two Canadians was seen as retaliation for Meng's detention in Canada - and as leverage against the government in Ottawa.

Canada and other western states accused Beijing of "hostage diplomacy".

Huawei is one of the world's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturers and a leader in 5G technology.

The US in particular accuses Huawei of being too close to the Chinese authorities and sees the group as a threat to their cybersecurity.

There are also fears of this kind in Germany.

(kam / AFP) * Merkur.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA